Rail-joint.



PATENTED JUNE 26, 1906.

W. R. THOMAS.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. e, 1905.

WI'IYVESSES:

F I VENTOR. WM 5 A TTORNE Y5 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

l/VILLIAM R. THOMAS, OF WATERTUVVN, VVISOONSIN.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 6.1905. fierial No. 248.436.

Patented June 26, 1906.

bolts.

The object of my invention is to provide means by which a more rigid andreliable joint may be formed than by the means heretofore used.

The construction of my invention is explained by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a perspective viewof my oint in connection with the meeting ends of two railway-rails.Fig. 2 is a transverse section. Fig. 3 represents a top view of acombined fish-plate and wedge. Fig. 4 represents a top view of acombined fish and base plate, and Fig. 5 represents a longitudinalsection of my railway-joint in connection with the meeting ends of tworailway-rails.

Like parts are identified by the same'reference-letters throughout theseveral views.

A A represent the meeting ends of two railwayrails.

The combined fish and base plate comprises, among other things, thevertical flange B and the horizontal plate C, provided with alongitudinal recess D, and the longitudinal angular web E, provided witha recess F. The combined fish-plate and wedge comprises, among otherthings, the vertical flange G, provided with a horizontal base-plate H,vertical shoulder I, and horizontal wedgeshaped portion J. Therespective fish-plates are preferably reinforced by the angularcorner-pieces K K.

Attention is especially called to the fact that by the constructionshown the horizontal wedge-shaped portion J has a vertical contactbearing against the vertical edge of the base-flange L of the rail andthat the same is interposed between the edge of said base-flange L andthe angular flange E. Attention is also called to the fact that theangular flange E is formed at an angle to the longitudinal center of therailway-rail, converging inwardly from the front toward the rear end ofthe wedge, whereby it is obvious that as said wedge plate, together withthe fish-plate, is driven rearwardly it is caused to impinge between thevertical edge of the base-:

flange L and the vertical flange E of the base plate, whereby thecombined fish and base plate and the combined fish-plate and wedge aredrawn firmly together upon the respective sides of the meeting ends ofthe rails, thereby locking the ends of the rails rigidly together,

while the vertical portions B and G of the joint serve to strengthen andsupport the upper portions of the rails and retain them in line witheach other.

To prevent the possibility of the railwayjoint moving longitudinally onthe rails, 1'

preferably, but not necessarily, provide the combined fish and baseplate with a plurality of horizontal projections M, which are adapted toregister with and fit into corresponding apertures N, formed in the web0 of the rail. It will be understood that when thus constructed thecombined fish and base plate is first put in place against one side ofthe rails with the projections M within the apertures N, when said partsare rigidly clamped to gether by driving the combined fish-plate andwedge firmly into place between the rail and the verticalretaining-flange E, as previously described. 7

The combined wedge and fish-plate is preferably made somewhat longerthan the baseplate, whereby when the same is in place its front end willproject slightly past the baseplate, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 5, whenit is securely retained at such point by driving the spike P into one ofthe ties R at the end of said plate, as indicated in Fig. 1. It will beobvious that by this arrangement the rigidity of the joint maybeincreased at any time by driving the wedge-shaped plate more firmly intoits bearings and that it can be locked at any point in its bearings bydriving a spike in the tie at the end of such plate. It will also berecognized that by bringing the angular bearing of the wedge-shapedportion of the plate against the angular bearing of the baseplate of therail and between it and the opposing bearing of the base-plate saidparts will be rigidly and firmly locked together and the possibility ofthe rail moving laterally within its bearings is prevented.

I am aware that an integrally-formed fish and base plate has previouslybeen used in connection with an integrally-formed fishplate and flange,but as heretofore constructed the flange ft!) lned in connection withthe fish-plate is of uniform width throughout its entire length, and forthis reason a separate wedge has been required to force such flange andfish-plate into binding contact with the meeting ends of the rails,While by my construction a separate wedge is dispensed with, owing tothe fact that the base-plate C is provided with a diagonal flange E,converging longitudinally toward the rails, whereby as the fish-plate G,with its integrally-formed wedgeshaped portion J, is driven in placesaid fish-plate is forced laterally by said diagonal. flange E towardand against the meeting ends of the rails, and the rails are heldsecurely inplace, whereby a separate wedge or bolt for such purpose isnot required.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

In a railway-rail joint of the class described, the combination with themeeting ends of two railway-rails, the webs of which are provided with aplurality of transverse apertures, of an integrallyformed fish-plate andbase-plate and an integrally-formed fishplate and wedge, the verticalportions of said. integrally-formed fish-plate and base-plate beingprovided with a plurality of horizontal projections adapted to enter theapertures of the rails and terminate flush with the opposite side of therail-webs through which said apertures are formed, the horizontalportions of tl1e.baseplate being provided with a vertical recessedflange formed at an angle to the longitudinal center of the rails,whereby an angular space is left between said recessed flange and thevertical edge of the rails for the reception. of the horizontal portionof said integrallydormed fish-plate and wedge, said integrally-formedfish-plate and wedge being adapted when driven home between saidrecessed flange and the railway-rails to securely clamp such partstogether, and means for holding said integrally-formed fishplate andwedge in place between said vertical recessed flange, comprising a spikerigidly fixed at one end to one of the rail-supporting ties, itsprotruding end being adapted to bear directly against the protruding endof said integrallyformed. wedge and fish-plate, all substantially as andfor the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM R. THOMAS.

Witnesses:

JAs. B. ERWIN, NELLIE Z. TAUGI-IER.

